Living Quran

Surah Al-Qiyamah (The Resurrection)

Al-Qiyamah means "The Resurrection" or "The Rising," referring to the Day of Resurrection when the dead are raised for judgment.

Surah Al-Qiyamah is the 75th chapter of the Quran, a Meccan surah of 40 ayahs in the 29th juz. As its name indicates, the surah centers on the Day of Resurrection, opening with an oath affirming its certainty and addressing doubts about whether God can raise the dead and even restore the smallest details of the human body. It vividly describes the upheaval of that Day and portrays contrasting states of faces that are radiant and hopeful versus those that are downcast in despair. The surah also contains a well-known passage concerning the receiving and recitation of revelation, reassuring the Prophet about how the Quran is preserved and conveyed. It reflects on human nature, the tendency to prefer the immediate over the lasting, and the moment of death. The chapter closes with reflections on God's power to create and to bring life again, presenting resurrection as a natural consequence of that same creative power.
Surah number
75
Revelation
Meccan
Ayahs
40
Arabic
القيامة

Read Surah Al-Qiyamah online — full Arabic text with the Pickthall English translation.

Main themes

  • The certainty and reality of the Day of Resurrection
  • God's power to recreate and restore the human being
  • The contrasting fates of the righteous and the heedless
  • The moment of death and its aftermath
  • Human attachment to the fleeting present
  • The preservation and conveyance of revelation

Why this surah matters

Al-Qiyamah is one of the Quran's central chapters on the theme of bodily resurrection and accountability, frequently referenced in discussions of Islamic eschatology. Its striking imagery of the Last Day and its argument for God's power to raise the dead make it a widely cited text on belief in the Hereafter. The surah's passage about the reception of revelation is also often discussed regarding how the Quran was received and preserved. Its concise, vivid style has made it a commonly memorized and recited chapter.

Frequently asked questions

What is Surah Al-Qiyamah about?

It focuses on the Day of Resurrection, affirming its certainty, describing its events, and emphasizing God's power to raise and restore the dead for judgment.

What does the name Al-Qiyamah mean?

It means "The Resurrection" or "The Rising," referring to the Day when the dead are raised and held accountable.

Is Al-Qiyamah Meccan or Medinan?

It is classified as a Meccan surah, consistent with its focus on core beliefs such as resurrection and the Hereafter.

Read Surah Al-Qiyamah

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